A cattle rancher, who police say was found with more than two pounds of cannabis at his Moblissa home on Saturday, was granted bail yesterday after he denied ownership and claimed that the narcotic belonged to his tenant, who escaped when the police made the discovery.
Michael Melville, 53, of Moblissa, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, denied the charge after it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One.
The charge alleged that on December 7th, at Moblissa, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, Melville had 1,113 grammes, which is equivalent to 2.454 pounds, of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.
According to the police prosecutor, around 11.30 am on the day in question, police, acting on information received, went to Melville’s home and conducted a search in and around the premises. At that time, only Melville and his tenant were home.
During the search the police allegedly found the cannabis wrapped in a sheet in a black bag at the back of the yard. The tenant subsequently made his escape while Melville was arrested and taken to McKenzie Police Station, where a quantity of seeds, leaves and stems were weighed in his presence. The prosecutor object to bail being granted, while saying that Melville, who was unrepresented, did not give any special reason why he should be granted bail.
However, Melville denied having knowledge of the narcotic and told the court that when the cannabis was found he did not try to escape. He said he shocked when the police unearthed the narcotic. “I had no idea that he was doing that and it was in the bush where I can’t see it,” he added. He said the tenant lived downstairs, while he lived at the top flat of the house with his wife and children.
After listening to Melville’s account, the magistrate set his bail at $200,000 and told him to report to the Amelia’s Ward Police station every Friday at nine. She adjourned the matter until January 16th, 2020.
